Promethean Clay
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for Promethean Clay, an initiative to develop new and innovative energy storage systems. This program seeks revolutionary advances through a mechanical and chemical co-design framework, aiming to eliminate rigid exoskeletons, improve performance, safety, and thermal resilience, and establish domestic sourcing. This is an Other Transaction for Prototype Agreement (OT). Proposals are due May 6, 2026.
Opportunity Overview
DARPA's Promethean Clay program, managed by the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), focuses on rethinking energy storage systems as mechanical and chemical entities. The goal is to achieve generational improvements by obviating rigid materials, incorporating thermal resilience and safety, and establishing a pathway for domestic sourcing and manufacturing. The program specifically excludes evolutionary improvements or new battery/fuel cell chemistries that do not address the need to overcome rigid, inactive materials.
Key Requirements & Scope
Proposals must investigate approaches that enable revolutionary advances in energy storage at scales relevant to systems integration. Key requirements include:
- Co-design Framework: Develop energy storage systems using a mechanical and chemical co-design approach to overcome rigidity.
- Reduced Packaging: Achieve significant improvement in energy storage performance by reducing packaging fraction, with packaging materials acting as hermetic interfaces.
- Free-form Design: Enable energy storage devices with flexible, free-form designs.
- Domestic Sourcing: Ensure domestic sourcing pathways for all materials and manufacturing.
- Safety & Resilience: Maintain or surpass current safety, thermal resilience, and operational performance standards.
- Technical Challenge: Facilitate electronic and ionic transport processes through co-design, ensuring mechanical connectivity and uniform properties. The program is structured into three phases over 48 months (Phase 1: 24 months, Phase 2: 12 months, Phase 3: 12 months), with an optional 3-month Phase 0 for security preparation.
Contract Details & Structure
This opportunity will result in Other Transaction for Prototype Agreements (OT) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022, with multiple awards anticipated. The estimated start date for performance was adjusted by amendment. The solicitation is not set aside; however, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, and Minority Institutions are encouraged to submit. Proposers whose efforts involve Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must demonstrate compliance with NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 (SPRS score 88+).
Submission & Evaluation
A mandatory abstract submission is required as an initial screening step, with only invited proposers eligible to submit a full proposal. Full proposals consist of a Volume I (Technical and Management Proposal), including a mandatory oral presentation (20 slides, 30 min + 45 min Q&A) and a 10-page written content, and a Volume II (Price Proposal). Abstracts are evaluated on Technical Concept and Potential to Achieve Program Goals. Full proposals are evaluated on Overall Scientific and Technical Merit, Potential Contribution to DARPA Mission, and Budget/Price.
Important Dates
- Published Date: March 2, 2026
- Proposers Day: February 25, 2025 (Past Event)
- Proposal Due Date: May 6, 2026 (Updated by Amendment 01)
- Contact: Promethean_Clay@darpa.mil
Attachments & Resources
Numerous attachments provide critical guidance:
- Attachment B: Abstract Instructions and Template (mandatory for initial submission).
- Attachment D: Volume I (Technical and Management Proposal) Instructions and Template.
- Attachment E: Volume II (Price Proposal) Instructions and Template.
- Attachment F: Price Summary Spreadsheet (mandatory for main phases).
- Attachment I: Schedule of Milestones and Payments (baseline for deliverables).
- Attachment J: Model Other Transaction for Prototype (contractual terms).
- Attachment K: CUI Guide (critical for security compliance).
- Attachment L & M: Phase 0 Cost Instructions and Spreadsheet (for security preparation).
- Proposers Day Recording: Link available for review.